Skylight construction.



J. D. THOMPSON. SKYLIGHT UONSTRUUTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1909.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

2 SHBETSSHEET 1.

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JefFcrson U Thompson mr am w J. D. THOMPSON. SKYLIGHT CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1909 Patented N0v.'1, 1910.

2 SH'EETSSHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES .IATENT omen.

JEFFERSON D. -THOM1'SON, or New YORK, N. Y.

SKYLIGHT CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

Application filed May 27, 1909. Serial No. 498,631.

T 0 all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JEFFERSON D. THOMP- son, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Skylight/Constructions, of which the following isa specification. F J Y My present. invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in skylight constructions and has for one of its prin-' 'cipal objects the provision of a novel. form of cushion or glazing strip designed to con'- stitute the sole supporting means for the glass plates of the skylight, said strip comprising a plurality of relatively thin, up-

standing spaced or separated walls of soft metal, upon the upper longitudinal edges of which the glass plates rest, the construction and material of the cushion or glazing stripbeing such that a close, water and air tight joint will necessarily result between, or atthe points of contact between, the strip and -the glass plates. resting thereon, 'and this tight connection between the parts, and to permit the caps or crown-pieces to be applied with ease andfacility without being compelled to first measure ed and punch the.

bolt-securing holes through which pass the bolts that Secure the caps or crown-pieces in position. I u I Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear from a reading ofthe de-" tailed descriptionnow to fellow.

The invention comprises the featuresof construction and arrangement ofparts as typified in the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1, is a vertical cross-sectional view I of a portion of a sky-light" construction made of'Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is' a longitudinal section taken on the line a-Mi one form of cushion or glazing strip made in accordance with the invention. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of an improved form of curb-clip. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectlonal view showing in use a slightly different form of cushion or glazing strip.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cushion or glazing strip shown in Fig. 5. -Fig. 7- is 'a vertical cross sectional 'view illustrating a novel construction of astragal or skylight bar formed of sheet metal. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 6 of Fig.7. v

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1, thereference letter A, designates generally one form of astragal orskylight bar which in the instance shown is made from one integral piece of rolled or cast metal, and comprises-the central vertical web 10, having at its base on oppositesides the two integrally formed outstanding wings or flanges 12, the

free ends 13, ofwhich are directed upward shown to-provide the lower pair of gutters 14. The central web 10, isfurther pi'ovided upon opposite sides, at points directly above the wings-or flanges 12 with outwardly and upwardly extending, integrally formed, glass p'late. supporting flanges 15,

upon the free longitudinal edges of which are attached my improved soft-metal cush- 1on s-or glazing strips S presently to be described. The central web 10, extends above the plane of'the glass-plate supporting flanges 15, and the cushions or glazing-strips resting thereon, as clearly shown inFig. 1, the said flanges 15, providing gutters 16, to drain away any water that'may accidentally findv its way between the joints through 'faulty construction due to carelessness on the part of the builder. At suitable redetermined' points, the upper longitudinal edge of the web 10, isprovided with circular openings -17, cut: entirely through the thickness of the web, each opening being intersected by a slot 18, leading therefrom to the edge of the web as more clearly shown 20, of the bolt projecting vertically through the said slot 18, and-the bolt being maintninedin true vertical alinement with the 'in Fig. 2. WVithin each-opening 17 is located the head 19 of an eye-bolt, theshank web .10, and against lateral displacement by.means of washers 21, of greater diameter than the circular openings 17, one washer being located on each side of the web, and

through which washers andthe eye of the.

cap or crown-piece which may be made sheet copper or other inetahthe free lower edges of which are shown as provided with reentrant bends 25, between the proved method and construction,

- formed, which biirs closely hug or embrace walls of which are located the thin soft metal strips 26, prefef'ably of lead, the free or unclamped portions of which are pressed in close facial contact ,with the upper face ofthe glassplates 27, of the skylight to provide a watertight seamor joint between said strips and the glass-plates upon which they are in contact. In applying and securing the cap or crown-piece in position, according to my imthe horizontal portion 28, thereofis first centered upon the pointed ends 23 of the eye-bolts and by downward pressure applied thereto,,

the said pointed ends afe forced it therethrough, causing upstandin burs 29, to be formed around-the pierced openings thus the shanks of the eye-bolts to form a; close joint therewith. The cap or crown-piece is forced down bodily until the soft metal strips 26, carried thereby, are in a position to be pressed into contact with the glass plates 27, and nuts 30, are then screwed upon I the threaded shanks of the bolts, the said nuts being provided on their under face with a cavity 31, up intowhich theburs 29, project, the marginal edges of the nuts contacting with the horizontalportion 28, of the cap or crownas shown to provide a close joint that will effectually exclude moisture.

The reference letter C, designatestmy' improved curb-clip, the purpose of which is to prevent endwise movement of the glassplates and to lend rigidity to the whole structure generally. The curb-clip as shown in- Figs. 2and 4", comprises a plate'32, having a general outline corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the cap or crown and a portion of the skylight bar, so as to fit into the cap and'th reby allow cap to pass over said clip and shed the water freely and not,

cause it to back u and freeze in freezing weather. Formed integral with and extend ing rearwardly from the rear face ofthe plate'32, are a pair of spaced parallel cars 33, adapted to embrace the opposite sides of i the web'lO, of the skylight-bar at the end thereof, the said clip being secured in position by means of a bolt or hollow rivet 34-, passed through apertures formed in the ears .and webrespectively as more clearly shown in Fig. 2.

' improved cushion or glazing Strip,

The reference numeral 24, designates twhich forms an important -feature of this invention, is designed primarily to provide a somewhat yielding, yet amply rigid support for the heavy glass plates of the sky light and one wherein a close and continu one or unbroken contact may be had be tween the strip and thesurface .of the glass plate resting thereon, notwithstandirg the surface irregularities, imperfections or undulations usually found in glass plates employed in skylight constructions, even though said glass plates be of the so-called ribbed or corrugated? type. form illustrated inFig. 3, the cushion or glazing strip is of substantially H-shape in cross-section, and comprises the relatively thin, spaced parallel walls 35, the f ongitudinal edges 36 of which are preferably, although not necessarily, somewhat thinner than the walls proper, said walls being joined by a transverse web 37, which may be arranged centrally or otherwise The. strip is composed of some suitable soft metal, such as lead, and owing to the fact that the walls thereof are. relatively thin, it will be apparentthat the heavy glass-plates In the resting thereon will bear upon these thin.

walls with. considerable pressure, causing any irregularities, ribs or uneven portions in the plates to sink into the thin upper edge of the walls and thus make close contact between these parts with the result that a water and air tight joint will be formed.

Furthermore the strips being formed of soft metal a-somewhat yielding support for the glass plates is provided, thus liability of breakage is greatly reduced. A further ad'- vantage resulting from my improved construction of cushion or glazing strip wherein a plurality of relatively thin glass-plate supporting walls is provided, resides in the fact that an air space 38, is formed between the I walls which will effectually intercept the flow of any water along the under'surface of the glass plates in case water should, by reason of imperfect construction, pass. between one of the walls and the surface of the plate resting thereon.

The form of cushion or glazing strip illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, is reversible as will'be apparent. In placing the same in position upon the flange 15, of the skylight bar, one of the channeled portions thereof is caused to straddle the upper edge of the flange and the flange embracing portions are then pressed or hammered into close contact wit-h the flange to hold the strip-in position. Obviously the cushion or glazing strip may be readily and quickly applied and removed for repair if desired. 1 In Figs. 5 and 6, I have illustrated a slightly different form of cushion or glazing strip made according to my invention. In the'instance shown the soft metal strip S, 1s m channel form and compr as the thin,

parallel spaced walls 35*, the upper longitudinal edges 36, of which are-reduced in thicknessand the said walls being joined at cap or crown bearing upon the proved cushion or .glazingstrip S, associated with a novcl form and construction of skylight bar formed from sheet metal, said bar having allthe structural characteristics of being cheaper and simpler to manufacture in view of the fact that it is formed en-,

tirely from sheet metal. As will be seen by referring to Fig. 7 the bar is made of two parts or members, one of which has a separableconnection with the other. The

lower part oft-he bar is formed from a sin- .gle sheet of metal and-has the central web 44, formed by doubling the sheet intermediate its ends, and the outwardly and upwardly extending flanges 45, formed by bending the free ends of 16. The other or upper member of the bar termediate its end: 0 provide the central open web 46, adapted .0 have a sliding and embracing fit with the web 44, of the lower member, the free ends of saidshe'et being bent outwardly and upwardly to provide the glass-plate supporting flanges 47, which carry the glazing strips S, upon which "the glass plates rest.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 the cap or crown-piece (not shown) is held in place bymeans of the bolts 48, each having a head 49, located between the intermediate bends of the upper and lower members 44,and 46 of the bar, the shanks of the bolts passing through openings formed in the ridge of the upper member. The bolts have pointed ends 50, to facilitate the application of the cap or crown as fully set forth herein with reference to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. l I

- I do not wish to be understood 'aslimiting 'myself to the specific detailsof construction herein shown and described, exceptas I may be limited by the terms of the appended claims, it being understood that the accom panying drawings are merely illustrative of preferred constructions of my invention.

It is to be further understood that I do not claim herein the. construction of skylight bar or astragal illustrated, in Figs. 7 and 8,

as thistype of the invention forms the subthe sheet out-j wardly and upwardly to provide the gutters Wh'atI claim is: 1. In a skylightconstruction, and in pombination with a glass panel thereof, a cushioning member for supporting said panel, said .member consisting of a plurality of relatively thin vertical walls of soft metal upon the upper longitudinal edges of which a face of thesaid panelmakes line contact.

In a skylight construction, and in combination with aglass panel thereof, a .cushioning member for supporting said panel, said'member consisting of a channeled strip of soft metalhaving relatively thin parallel walls upon the upper longitudinal edges of -which a. face ofthe panel rests. the bar illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, but

In skylight construction, and in combination. with a glass panel thereof, a cushioning member for supporting said panel, said member consisting of a reversible channeled strip of soft metal having pairs of op- .posed, relatively thin walls upon the upper longitudinal edges of a pair of which walls a surface of the panelrests.

4. In a skylight, an astragal having outstanding wings or flanges, cushioning members removablyjand reversibly supported upon the marginal edges of said wings or flanges, each cushioning member consisting of a channeled strip of soft metal having relatively thin upstanding walls, and glass plates having their under surfaces resting upon the edges of said walls.

5. In a skylight, .an astragal having outstanding wings or flanges, cushioning members removably and replaceably supported upon the marginal edges of said wings or flanges, each cushioning member consisting of a plurality of relatively thin vertical wa'lls of soft metal, and glass plates resting upon said walls.

6. In a skylight, an astragal having outstandingwings or flanges, and cushioning membersremovably and reversibly supported upon the marginal edges of said wings or flanges, each cushioning member consisting of opposed pairs of relatively'thin parallel walls of soft'metal, said walls-connected intermediate their longitudinal edges by a web.

7 In skylight construction, and incombination, a skylight bar, a soft metal cushioning strip removably connected thereto, said strip having a relatively thin upstanding Wall constituting the support for a glass plate of the skylight, and means carried by the strip for removably connecting it with the skylight bar.

8. In skylight construction, and in combination, a skylight bar, strip carried thereby,

said striphaving a plurality of relatively thin and spaced upa soft metal glazing standing walls, and means carried by the strip for removably attaching it to the skylight bar.

. 4,9,. In'skylight construction, and in combination, a skylight bar, and "a soft metal cushioning strip removably and replaceably carried thereby, said strip having a channeled portion removably embracing a part of the bar, and a relatively thin upstanding Wall, the upper longitudinal edge of which constitutes the support for the glass panel I of the skylight.

' bination, a skylight bar,

10. Inskylight construction, and in combination, a skylightjbar, and a soft metal cushioning strip removably attached thereto, said strip having a channeled portion ree bar, and a movably embracing a part of plurality of relatively thin upstanding 'walls, the upper longitudinal edges of which walls constitute the supporting means for a glass panel of the skylight.

11. In skylight constructionpand in comand a soft metal cushioning strip carried thereby, said strip provided with similar means for removably and reversibly attaching the same to the bar and for supporting a glassjpa'nel respec- .tively.

12. In skylight construction, a bar comprising a central web, having pairs of upper and lower outstanding wings or flanges, on oppositesides thereof, cushioning strips removably carried by and having portions embracing the longitudinal edges of the-upper set .of wings or flanges, glass plates sup-- ported upon said cushioning strips, and a cap or crown piece secured to the said contral web of the bar.

13. In. skylight constructioman astragal having a central web; glass panels supported by" theastragal, rigid 'bolts. rojecting ward from the upper edge 0 the'web, said bolts each having a pointed piercing extremity, a cap or crown-piece of thin penetrable metal capable of beingpierced by the said pointed extremities of the bolts to form in position for use,

- burred openings therethrough the said bolts projecting through said pierced openings in the cap or crown-piece when the latter is r I and a nut screwed upon each bolt, each nut having a countersink to receive the upstanding bur of the opening through which its bolt passes.

14. That improvement in mg caps or crown pieces to skylight -c0n-' structions, which consists in providing an astragal with rigid cap or crown-piece piercin projections, placing a crown-piece of thin penetrable metal upon the piercing ex by said astragal, rigid ings, and means upper edge the art of apply ,tremities of said projections and forcing the I v latter therethrough to form burred openings in said crown-piece through which the said plUjectlqHS extend, and then applying a retaining element to maintain the cap or crown-piece in position.

15. In skylight construction, an astragal having a central web, glass panels supported bolts projecting upward from the upper edge of the said web and adapted to ierce burrcd openings in a cap or crown, an nuts on said bolts, eachnut having a countersink on its under face for the purpose specified.

16: :In skylight construction, a bar having a web provided with openings along the upper edge 'thereof, eye-bolts having the headed portions thereofseated in said openfor securing saideye-bolts in said openings and for maintaining the shanks thereof in alinement with the web, said means passing through the eyes of the said bolts.

cap or crown piercing 17. In skylight construction, a bar having and means embracing opposlte sides of the web and extending through the heads of the bolts for maintaining alinement with the web.

19. In skylight construction,a bar having a web provided with openings along the thereof, eye-bolts seated in said openings and having the shanks thereof projecting above the upper edge of the web, washers embracing opposite sides of the web and the heads of the bolts, and 'means passingthroughthe washers and eye-bolts for securing the latter l in position with their shanks in alinement with the web.

Intestimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand inpresence of two subscribing witfiesses.

JEFFERSON nrrHoMP'son'. Witnesses:

- J. C. MoFAnLANn, l

. G. C. NEWELL.

maintaining the shanks there the shanks thereof in 

